Package or paper holder for mail-boxes or the like.



V. G. KOON S." PACKAGE OR PAPER HOLDER FOB MAILBOXES OR THE LIKE.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV. II 1910.

1,024,266. PatentedApr. 23, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANOOHAPII 47.. wAsmNa'mN. n. r.

mail delivered by the carrier box, and hence it is desirable to provide power and range of movement to hold mail -matter varying greatly in size and form VIRGIL G. KOONS, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

PACKAGE 0R PAPER HOLDER FOR MAIL-BOXES OR THE LIKE.

1,02%,266, Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 1, 1910.

' Patented Apr. 23, 1912. Serial No. 590,209.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VIRGIL O. Kooxs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Colorado Springs, El Paso county, Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Package or Paper Holders for Mail-Boxes or the Like; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in mail box package and letter holders, and the like; and the objects and nature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I now consider my preferred embodiment from among other formations and arrangements applied thereto.

The invention consists in certain novel features in construction and in combinations and arrangements as more fully and particularly set forth and described hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:Figure l, is a perspective view of a letter box showing my invention applied a strong sheet metal case or box 2, of an oblong formation and open at the inner side. The edge walls of this box are formed with out-turned lateral flanges 3, around said open side and perforated for the reception of rivets 4:, or other fastening means, to rigidly secure said case at the e, terior of a letter box and with its open side closed by the letter box wall. One end wall of this case is removed and this otherwise open end of the case is more or less covered by the out-turned right angle end or shank 4, of the long wide longitudinally curved clamping or holding arm 5, extending from the case in longitudinal continuation thereof, and pivoted or hinged thereto to swing on a transverse axis approximately in the plane of the closed outer side wall of the case. In the example illustrated, the outer extremity of the right-angle shank 4, of the holder arm 5, is formed with a hinge eye 6, between hinge eyes 7 formed at the end of the outer side wall of the case and receiving the transverse hinge or pivot pin 8, by which the arm is pivotally united to the case.

The arm is yieldingly held to the letter box wall by a strong durable coiled retractive spring 9, longitudinally arranged within the casing and at one end removably thereto. Fig. 2, is a rear perspective view hooked i n the eye or loop 10, secured firmly thereof detached from the box. Fig. 3, is a to the rlgld end wall of the casing, and at longitudinal section. the other end removably hooked in the eye or loop 11, fixed to the shank 4: of the arm and projecting into the case and spaced inwardly a distance from the hinge pin or other axis on which the arm swings. This spring, is so arranged as to constantly exert its tension to swing the arm inwardly with its shank covering the open end of the case, and the arm is so bowed or curved about as shown, that when its outer inwardly convexed stop end 50, engages the wall of the letter box, or other adjacent object, the spring will be under tension.

As at present advised, I prefer to bend up the arm and its shank from comparatively heavy flat sheet metal, and form the arm comparatively wide and flat in cross section and thereby increase the gripping or holding capacity thereof and yet reduce to the minimum all liability of damaging the mail matter or injuring the contents thereof.

By hinging or pivoting the arm and employing one or more separate strong ret-ractile springs, I greatly increase the life or dura- In the drawings, 1, is any suitable letter box, such as a house letter box, or for that matter a mail collection and delivery box located or adapted to be located at any suitable and convenient point to receive the or to hold mail to be collected by the carrier.

The mail carrier often delivers parcels, magazines, newspapers or other mail matter too large to be received by the letter the letter box with an exterior clamp or holder to receive and firmly hold such large mail matter at or against the exterior of the box.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved holder for this purpose which shall be exceedingly strong and durable, of large capacity and of sufficient without injury to the spring thereof.

In the specific example illustrated, Ishow (iii bility of the holder as well as the capacity and efficiency thereof and springs can be renewed when worn out or damaged inasmuch as I prefer to detachably hook the springs to the parts to which they are attached. Also the hinge pivots can be removable if so desired, to permit removal of the arms and access to the spring, although I do not wish to so limit my invention.

It is evident that various changes and modifications might be resorted to in the forms, constructions and arrangements of parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as claimed, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact disclosure hereof.

What I claim is 1. A holder for mail matter and the like, comprising a case, a laterally swingable gripping arm at one end portion pivotally joined to said case, said arm extending therefrom in longitudinal continuation thereof,

' and a coiled retractive spring arranged in longitudinal continuation of said arm and at oneend attached to the pivoted end of the arm to one side of the axis on which the arm swings and at its other end attached to said case, said spring being arranged in said case and exerting its pull on said arm to yieldingly hold the same laterally in normal gripping position.

2. A holder for mail matter comprising a case adapted to be fixed to the exterior of a mail box, and an elongated letter gripping arm at one end having a lateral shank arranged in one end of the case and at its outer Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the end hinged to the outer wall of said case, and a coiled retract-ive spring in said case and having end attaching devices detaohably coupled to a wall thereof and to said shank to normally and yieldingly hold said arm at its limit of movement toward the exterior surface of the box.

3. A holder for mail matter comprising a case adapted to be fixed to the exterior of a letter box, a laterally swingable mail gripping arm adapted to grip mail matter against the exterior of the box, said arm extending from said box and having a lateral shank closing one end of the case and at its extremity hinged to said case, and a coiled retractive spring arranged longitudinally in said case and at one end coupled thereto and at its opposite end coupled to said shank to swing said arm toward said box.

4:. A holder for mail matter comprising an elongated mail gripping arm at one end having an out-turned lateral shank pivotally mounted at its outer end portion to cause the arm to swing on a transverse axis, a coiled retractive spring applied to said shank inwardly beyond its axis and pulling on said arm in the line of its length to yieldingly hold the arm in normal mail gripping position and attaching devices for the arm and spring.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

VIRGIL C. KOONS.

Witnesses:

JERRY O. BUNCH, R. J. MCARDLE.

Commissioner of latents,

Washington, .D. O. 

